Bed sheet with three-dimensional shaped contours

ABSTRACT

A sheet construction for baby sleeping furniture includes three dimensional contour surfaces extending upwardly from a flat central portion of the sheet. The contour surfaces are defined by fabric pockets filled with soft bulk material and may extend along opposed side edges of the sheet to define a central resting area therebetween. The contoured pockets contain a sleeping infant and prevent rolling over and other unwanted movement while providing comfortable contact with soft surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date priority of U.S.Provisional Application 62/079,399, filed Nov. 13, 2014.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC ON CD

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to sheets for baby and juvenile sleep or loungeproducts and surfaces and, more particularly, to sheets that embodythree dimensional contoured shapes on their upper surfaces.

2. Description of Related Art

Baby sleeping furniture, including cribs, sleepers, carriers, and thelike, have in the past been provided with various pads, bumpers, andfillers to protect and surround the baby. However, recent regulatoryrulings and adverse events have determined that many wedges, pads, andbumpers cannot be used in baby sleeping furniture.

However, it remains necessary to protect babies while sleeping,particularly if it is required, e.g., to keep a baby sleeping on itsback, or protect from impingement of the baby on structural componentsof the crib or sleeper construction. At the same time, it is importantto provide a cozy and enclosed space for the infant that creates a senseof security, rather than an expansive open space that providesinsufficient contact.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises a fitted or flat sheetconstruction for baby sleeping furniture that includes three dimensionalcontour surfaces embodied in the sheet and supported or filled by softor molded resilient bulk materials that are safe for baby sleepingpurposes. The sheet is adapted to be removably secured to a flatmattress or mattress pad of baby sleeping furniture of any type, andincludes a central portion that is essentially planar and horizontal orinclined and supported atop the mattress or pad. In one embodiment apair of oblong fabric portions are sewn to the central portion and forma pocket therewith that extends upwardly from the plane of the sheet toform a smoothly contoured three-dimensional shape.

The pocket retains a soft or molded resilient bulk material such asexpanded foam, bulk fiber, and flexible silicone or plastic, or thelike. The exterior of the pocket is a smooth curved contoured bumpersurface that extends approximately 1.5-5 inches above the plane of thecentral portion of the sheet.

The pair of pockets are spaced apart laterally, each abutting arespective side edge of the sheet, and defining therebetween a flatresting place for a baby. In other embodiments the pockets may beprovided in plan layouts that are U-shape or an enclosed oval as well.One exemplary use for the invention is that the baby may be placed onhis/her back on the resting place, and the three-dimensional bumpercontours at the sides of the baby will prevent the baby from rollingover, so that the baby will sleep on its back. And the tactile contactwith the smooth soft contours of the pockets engender a sense of comfortand security in the baby.

The outer perimeter of the sheet is sized to fit about the mattress pador sleeping surface, and may be provided with straps or an elastic edgetreatment that secures the sheet assembly to the pad at the peripherythereof.

The pockets of the sheet assembly may be provided with sealable openingsthat enable removal of the soft resilient bulk material so that thesheet assembly may be laundered. Alternatively, the pockets may be sewnshut and the filler material may be permanently installed.

A salient advantage of the sheet assembly is that it may enhance anyflat sleeping surface by adding three-dimensional contoured bumpersurfaces that not only limit movement of the sleeping infant, but alsoprovide soft, comfortable, cozy contact for the infant. Unlike the priorart use of loose pillows, pads, and stuffed figures, thethree-dimensional contoured bumper surfaces of the sheet assembly cannotbe displaced or moved by the infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the sheet assembly withthree-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention, for use in atypical baby sleeper.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of the sheet assembly withthree-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention for use in atypical baby sleeper.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the sheet assembly withthree-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention for use in atypical baby sleeper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sheet assembly withthree-dimensional shaped contours of the invention in use in aSnugglenest™ baby sleeper.

FIGS. 5-7 are cross-section lateral elevations of the sheet assemblywith three-dimensional shaped contours, taken along line A-A of FIG. 2,each showing a different material used as a resilient bulk filler.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section lateral elevation of the sheet assembly withthree-dimensional shaped contours, taken along line B-B of FIG. 3,showing another material used as a resilient bulk filler.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the sheet assemblywith three-dimensional shaped contours of the invention used in atypical baby crib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises a sheet construction for babysleeping furniture that includes three dimensional contour surfacesembodied in the sheet and supported or filled by soft or moldedresilient bulk materials that are safe for baby sleeping purposes. Thesheet is adapted to be removably secured to a flat mattress or mattresspad of the baby sleeping furniture. The outer perimeter of the sheet isdimensioned to fit about the mattress pad, and may be provided with anelastic edge treatment that continuously secures the sheet assembly tothe pad at the periphery thereof, in the manner of a fitted sheet.

As shown in the accompanying Figures, and particularly FIG. 4, in onetypical use the invention may be installed in a Snuggle Nest™ sleeper 21or the like, which has an upstanding sidewall 22 having a head end 23and opposed side portions 24. A flat mattress pad 26 is secured betweenthe side portions and the head end, and the assembly is dimensioned toreceive a baby 25 therein.

The sheet assembly 30 of the invention includes a central flat portion31 that spans the mattress pad 26 and is secured about the peripherythereof, either by an elastic band 35 sewn into the hem, or by tuckingthe margins of the sheet under the pad 26. Sewn to the portion 31 aretwo fabric pockets 32 having smooth convex exterior surfaces with noprotruding edges or seams. Each pocket is disposed adjacent to onelongitudinal side edge of the sheet portion 31 and like edge of themattress pad, and extends upwardly from the mattress pad approximately1.5-5.0 inches. Each pocket 32 extends laterally toward the center ofthe mattress pad and protrudes upwardly from the sheet 31 in the mannerof a bolster or bumper, and is configured with an outboard surface 33that is generally parallel and collinear with the adjacent portion ofthe longitudinal side edge of the pad 26, and an inboard surface 34 thatis an elongated bowed continuous convex curved shape that joins theoutboard surface at both ends.

Each pocket 32 defines a three-dimensional contour by being filled witha soft resilient bulk material 36, such as expanded foam (FIG. 5),resilient fiber batting (FIG. 6), inflated air cells (FIG. 7), moldedsoft plastic (FIG. 8), and the like.

The perimeter of the sheet assembly 30 is configured in complementaryfashion to the shape of the mattress pad, and may be shaped in plan viewas an oval with rounded ends (FIG. 1), a quadrilateral with rounded ends(FIG. 2), or an oval having two extended pockets 32 or a single pocket32′ that extends continuously about the outer edge of the sheet 31 (FIG.3). The shape and the width and length may be selected to fill the spaceprovided in the baby sleeping bed, whatever type and size it may be. Thesheet may be formed of, or include panels of, breathable mesh fabric forincreased air flow to the baby, as indicated by reference numeral 41. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 3, the continuous oval configuration of thepocket 32′ serves not only to prevent a sleeping infant from rollingover, but also to block the child from crawling or squirming toward thehead or foot of the sleeping bed.

With reference to FIG. 9, the invention is shown in use with a typicalbaby crib 51. The sheet assembly 30 has marginal side portions 56secured about the sides of crib mattress 52, either by folding andtucking under the mattress, or by an elasticized hem commonly used withfitted sheets. The pockets 32 are joined to the central flat portion 31of the sheet assembly 30, and extend continuously about the innerperimeter of the crib 51, in the fashion similar to the embodiment shownin FIG. 8. The baby 25 asleep in the central resting area 31 of thesheet assembly 30 is blocked from rolling or otherwise moving intocontact with the crib bars or ends, and the invention provides cozycomfort and safety for the sleeping infant. The materials used for thesheet portions and the bulk fill materials may be any of those mentionedpreviously herein, or their equivalents. Likewise, in any of theembodiments shown herein the pockets may include openings that are usedto remove the bulk fill materials to enable laundering of the sheetassembly.

Although the embodiments described herein depict the three-dimensionalcontour shapes as being located adjacent to the side or end edges of thesleeping mattress or pad, the pockets defining the contour shapes may beplaced wherever they are needed or desired for the comfort and safety ofthe sleeping infant.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teaching without deviating from the spirit and thescope of the invention. The embodiments described are selected to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to theparticular purpose contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A sheet assembly for a baby bed having a mattress, including: a sheethaving a central flat portion with a perimeter corresponding generallyto the shape of the mattress; said sheet including an outer peripheralportion shaped and disposed to engage the sides of the mattress; atleast one pocket secured to said central flat portion; a bulk fillmaterial secured within said at least one pocket to expand and inflatesaid at least one pocket above said central flat portion to form athree-dimensional smoothly contoured shape that provides comfortablecontact and movement control of a baby residing on said central flatportion.
 2. The sheet assembly of claim 1, further including a pair ofsaid pockets disposed in space apart positions on said central flatportion and defining therebetween a resting area for a baby.
 3. Thesheet assembly of claim 2, wherein said central flat portion includesopposed side edges, and said pair of pockets are each disposed adjacentto a respective side edge of said central flat portion.
 4. The sheetassembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one pocket extendscontinuously adjacent to said perimeter of said central flat portion todefine a resting area for a baby on said central flat portion within theconfines of said pocket.
 5. The sheet assembly of claim 1, wherein saidbulk fill material is selected from a group comprising expanded foam,resilient fiber batting, inflated air cells, and molded soft plastic. 6.The sheet assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral portion ofsaid sheet includes an elasticized hem positioned to compressivelyengage about said mattress.
 7. The sheet assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid outer peripheral portion of said sheet includes marginal peripheralportion disposed to be tucked under the mattress.